Certified Addictions Counselor I (CAC Level 1)

• Requires two (2) years full time or 4,000 hours experience in the Alcohol and Other Drug Counseling Core Functions within the previous five years.
• Also required is a Bachelor’s Degree in any area or an Associates Degree in Human Services.
• In all instances a minimum of 270 clock hours must be documented in education or training related to the counseling core functions.

Additional requirements include:

• Documentation of 150 hours of clinical supervision by a certified addictions professional
• Affirmation in writing of adherence to the South Carolina Certification Ethical Standards
• Submission of all appropriate documentation with completed application and fee
• Pass Level I written examination
• Pass oral examination
• Receipt of final approval by SCAADAC Certification Commission.

Certified Addictions Counselor II (CAC Level II)

• Requires four (4) years full time or 8,000 hours experience in the Alcohol and Other Drug Counseling Core Functions within the previous five years.
• Also required is a Bachelor’s Degree in any area or an Associates Degree in Human Services.
• Certified Addictions Counselor II may also be obtained by making application for CAC II when hours of required experience have been met and an upgrade fee is paid; OR upon re-certification when required hours and experience for CAC II are documented and re-certification fee is paid. However, in all instances a minimum of 450 clock hours must be documented in education or training related to the core functions

Additional requirements include:

• Documentation of 150 hours of clinical supervision by a certified addictions professional;
• Affirmation in writing of adherence to the South Carolina Certification Ethical Standards;
• Submission of all appropriate documentation with completed application and fee;
• Pass Level II written examination;
• Pass oral examination;
• Receipt of final approval by SCAADAC Certification

Certified Clinical Supervisor

• Must be currently certified as a Certified Addictions Counselor II.
• Requires five (5) years or 10,000 hours of full-time of experience in Human Services or AOD counseling within the previous five years.
• A Master’s degree in a clinical subject or a Bachelor’s degree plus 250 hours of approved training related to the core functions.
• An additional 30 hours of training specific to clinical supervision is required regardless of degree or experience.

Additional requirements include:

• Affirmation in writing of adherence to the South Carolina Certification Ethical Standards;
• Pass oral examination for CCS.
• Receive final approval of SCAADAC Certification Commission.

Recertification

Renewal of certification shall be required every two (2) years

• Documentation of 60 clock hours of continuing education or training during the current two-year term of certification must be included with the application. Effective January 1, 2003, two hours of the required sixty hours must be in the area of professional ethics. The primary focus of trainings should be on the counseling core functions.
• Training certificates stating the trainee’s name, the trainer’s name, number of clock hours for the training event must accompany the re-certification application as documentation that the training was received. Official transcripts for undergraduate, graduate and professional studies must be forwarded by the issuing institution to the SCAADAC Certification Commission office.
• A maximum of 20 hours of the 60 hours required for re-certification may be earned through events where the applicant is the trainer.
• A maximum of 30 hours of the 60 hours required for re-certification may be earned through home study courses. Certificates of completion must be provided with the application.